Cooley Kickhams won the Louth U21 football championship for the first time since the early 1980s.

The underdogs produced a commanding performance to dispose of a hotly-fancied Geraldines team - who were minor champions with this group in 2013 - on a scoreline of 3-7 to 0-8 at Darver ten days ago.

Cooley got off to the quicker start going 2 points to nil up before the Geraldines rallied and won two frees which they dispatched to tie up the game. Cooley responded with another point before the Geraldines took the lead for the only time in the game scoring from another two frees. At this point Cooley struck with two quickfire goals to take a five-point lead. Just before the break the Geraldines registered their first score from play to leave the half-time score 2-3 to 0-5.

Following the restart the Geraldines converted another free to leave it a 3 point game but Cooley's display of skill and cohesion coupled with their tremendous work rate allowed them to keep the Gers at arm's length for the remainder of the match. When the Gers again closed the gap a few positional and tactical changes allowed Cooley to break quickly and tag on further scores, one of which was an expertly taken goal which followed some exceptional defending and a quick transition from defence to attack.

All in all, the management team must have been very satisfied as every player contributed in their own way to the win. A special mention must go to the captain Peter Thornton who played through the pain barrier and lead by example to guide the team to victory.

It must be noted that of the panel of 23 used throughout the tournament only 2 are ineligible next year and 15 have come from the current minor team. Indeed 3 of those who played last night are illegible to play minor again next year. Hopefully these players can drive on and force their way into the clubs senior team in the years to come.

Panel: Sean Hayes, Luke White, Conor Kenny, Dylan McGarrity, Paddy Hanlon, Dean McGreehan, Rowan Quinn, James Loughran, Peter Thornton, Fearghal Malone, Thomas McGuinness, Eoin McDaid, Emmet Rogan, Jake McShane, Michael Carron, Alex Woods, Christopher McGuinness, Craig McGuinness, Sean McGrane, Ronan Sheelan, Daniel Hanlon, Nicholas Rafferty, Kevin Murphy, James O Reilly.

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